25 years ago: Anti-pornography group organizes in Lawrence

A new group was forming in Lawrence claiming strong ties to "traditional values." The organization had no official name yet, but according to spokesman Jim Mullins, they were considering calling themselves the Douglas County Coalition for Traditional Values. Among their other concerns was the subject of pornography. Mullins and some other individuals had asked the Lawrence City Commission to consider changing the city pornography ordinance in 1985, but the commissioners had declined, saying that Lawrence didn't have a problem and that no formal complaints had been filed. Mullins said that The Coalition Against Pornography -- Kansas City was planning to begin a $1 million media campaign, so it seemed like a good time to start a similar educational attempt in Lawrence. The new group, which had so far attracted about 10 individuals, was to first focus on child pornography. "We're really not talking about a First Amendment issue," Mullins said. "What we're talking about is obscene material.... People say 'you want to take away my rights.' That's not what we're talking about. We're talking about the stuff the Supreme Court has ruled obscene. That is child and hard core."